The Grande Ronde River is a tributary of the Snake River, which runs for 185 miles in northeastern Oregon and southeastern Washington. It begins in the Blue Mountains near Anthony Lakes in the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest and then flows through the agricultural Grande Ronde Valley, and finally through a number of scenic canyons in its lower course. The water is almost always cold because it consists of melt off from the Wallowa Mountains and the Minam and Wallowa Rivers.

Whitewater kayaking and rafting trips usually begin at the section below Minam, which is designated as Wild and Scenic, and has great camping and opportunities to view wildlife. The river is much more exciting to run in the spring months when the levels swell and the rapids and waves increase in size an intensity. For boaters looking for a more solitary experience, late October and early November is recommended as the river sees a lot less traffic because the water levels are so low it is a challenge to navigate.

This is a great river to run for boaters with average skill, as the rapids are mostly mellow and there is plenty of places to recover gear and boats if accidents do occur. The river is surrounded on all sides by steep mountains and is still relatively isolated. Boaters should be prepared for extreme weather conditions and all be aware that both passes in and out of the river valley may get snowed in.